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how do you know a sponge filter is cycled

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when it is grungy looking. I got a new sponge in my 75 soaking up the BB while I am in the process of setting up 20L betta/platy tank. So as title states, i mean it cant take as long as a filter in an un-cylced tank. I assume that it will cycle before it gets discolored by gunk. also a question to ponder, since i am using a cheap air pump; it is rated for 5 gallons and well the sponge is quite big. Will it take longer to cycle the sponge because less water is pulling through? should i get a air pump rated higher to get more suction so it filters more BB to cling.

when it is grungy looking. I got a new sponge in my 75 soaking up the BB while I am in the process of setting up 20L betta/platy tank. So as title states, i mean it cant take as long as a filter in an un-cylced tank. I assume that it will cycle before it gets discolored by gunk. also a question to ponder, since i am using a cheap air pump; it is rated for 5 gallons and well the sponge is quite big. Will it take longer to cycle the sponge because less water is pulling through? should i get a air pump rated higher to get more suction so it filters more BB to cling.

Well, how does the pump perform? Does the pump have two outlets or just one? Are you only powering one bubbler with it? Are you getting a good amount of bubbles at a decent rate? It should probably take about 4 weeks to get a sponge filter cycled. I have 3 sponge filters in my 75gal. One's rated for 40 and two are rated for 10. The 10s are for QT swapping.

Yes to all questions. Except it only has one outlet. It works fine;,I just thought more water through quicker it would go. Thanks

+1 to Kevin.

More flow equals more food [Ammonia/TrItes] flowing past the growing BB colony but it doesn't increase the rate at which the BB develops.

In this case a higher flow rate could potentially increase the sponges capacity for BB [Over low flow] as it would keep more BB fed than a lower rate. You can't have more BB than you have food available to feed them you know?

This will work but IMO your goals would be more effectively served by a higher flow.

Gas mileage isn't everythingOIIIIIIIOLack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.Why pretend there are no stupid questions? Actually, There are many stupid questions: "Should I drink this bleach?" Is just one example.
Having said that, Just because it's a stupid question doesn't mean that it shouldn't be asked. It's better to know.A warm beer is better than a cold beer. Because nothing is better than a cold beer, and a warm beer is better than nothing.

Also very good reading is their lighting article, I have linked that here many times .

Gas mileage isn't everythingOIIIIIIIOLack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.Why pretend there are no stupid questions? Actually, There are many stupid questions: "Should I drink this bleach?" Is just one example.
Having said that, Just because it's a stupid question doesn't mean that it shouldn't be asked. It's better to know.A warm beer is better than a cold beer. Because nothing is better than a cold beer, and a warm beer is better than nothing.